In a reduced role, Alstott still delivers

By MIKE READLING
Published November 7, 2005

TAMPA - He's not the No.1 weapon out of the Bucs backfield anymore.

He's not the guy who's going to rush for 75 yards or even catch five passes a game.

What Mike Alstott has become is the guy the Bucs can look to when they need a play, not to mention a little momentum.

Alstott touched the ball three times during Sunday's game against NFC South division rival Carolina. The result was two first downs and a touchdown. It might not add up to many fantasy football points, but it's exactly as productive a day as the Bucs need from the 10-year veteran.

Take his first catch, for example: On third and 10 from the Bucs 21, Chris Simms found Alstott with a short pass close to the sideline. The fullback broke four tackles, churning and twisting his way for a 12-yard gain.

More than a chance to move the chains, though, it was the type of play that fires up a team. Four plays later, Simms passed to Joey Galloway for a 50-yard touchdown.

Then there was the third quarter when Alstott gained nine yards on a second and 8. He scored in the fourth on a first and goal from the 1 after a pass-interference penalty against Carolina. It was Alstott's second rushing touchdown this season, the 51st of his career. He also has 12 receiving TDs.

FLEET OF FEET: It seemed, at first, like a common enough play. Carolina's Steve Smith running down the sideline after yet another reception from Jake Delhomme . Common enough, that is, until you see who made the tackle the ended the 23-yard gain.

That was Dewayne White , defensive end.

So why is a 6-foot-2, 273-pound lineman making a play in an area usually patrolled by cornerbacks and safeties?

"It was just hustle. You just keep running," White said. "You never know. It's like playing basketball. You always run down the guy at halfcourt when he's got everybody beat because you never know when's he's going to miss the layup."

White was also instrumental in stopping the Panthers on their first possession of the second quarter. On first and 10 from the Carolina 27, he sacked Delhomme for a 6-yard loss. Two plays later, he batted down one of Delhomme's passes in the backfield, forcing a punt that gave the Bucs field position at their own 32.

DO A LITTLE DANCE: Smith's 35-yard touchdown catch provided much more than a 27-point lead in the fourth quarter.

After scoring, Smith celebrated with a fencing/sword fight dance in the end zone, using the ball as his weapon. It was something, Smith said, he tailored for the home crowd.

"Just a little sword fight for the Buccaneers," said Smith, who finished with five catches for 106 yards and one score. "I had it last week but I decided to save it for this week."

TIGER ON THE PROWL: Stephen Davis was more than a little vocal last week about how he was the best running back from Auburn playing in the NFL, not much-hyped rookies Cadillac Williams and Miami's Ronnie Brown .

Then he proved it.

Davis carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards but scored two touchdowns. Williams? Try 11 carries for 29 yards. Brown had 67 yards against the Falcons but didn't score. And his team lost.

AGING GRACEFULLY: Receiver Ricky Proehl , in his 16th year, made the longest play of the game when he reeled in a 62-yard pass in the second quarter. Proehl slipped behind the defense and outran middle linebacker Shelton Quarles , who slipped just as the ball arrived, to set up a Davis touchdown two plays later.

"At my age I think they sleep on me a little bit and don't expect me to go deep that much," Proehl said.

INJURY UPDATE: For the second time in about a month, left tackle Anthony Davis will find himself awaiting results of an MRI exam. Davis is scheduled to have the exam today after leaving the game with a knee injury. Davis left the Detroit game Oct.2 with a shoulder injury. ... Receiver Michael Clayton "tweaked his knee" when he was tackled after his first reception but returned to play the rest of the game. ... Punter Josh Bidwell was plowed over by Carolina's Rod Smart on what appeared to be a block in the back. He stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped off. He later returned.

[Last modified November 7, 2005, 01:10:19]